HOOVER, Ala. – Flamboyant Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk made it clear at Wednesday’s SEC Media Days exactly what he thinks of (even more flamboyant) former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel: “He’s the best college football player to ever play the game.”

The sophomore said he watches tape of Manziel “all the time” and tries to model his game after the Cleveland Browns rookie.

“He can turn anything into something,” Mauk said. “He can change a game so quick.”

It’s easy to see why Mauk, like Manziel a dual threat in throwing and running, considers Manziel a role model (perhaps on and off the field). The Aggie set the SEC single-season total yards record twice, in only two years of play in the league before declaring for the NFL following his redshirt sophomore season. A&M, however, especially because of a porous defense, never won even a division crown with A&M, prompting howls of protest via Twitter to Mauk’s “greatest ever” claim.

Mauk was actually on the sidelines during the Tigers’ 28-21 victory over A&M last November, when starter James Franklin returned from injury, and Manziel fought through hand and leg injuries in one of his poorer showings for the Aggies.